terça-feira, 31 de maio de 2016

Though the result was obviously not what the Reds wanted from their trip to New Jersey there was a moment worth savouring for Canadian football fans. Six Canadian players, Johnson, Jonathan Osorio, Mo Babouli, Jordan Hamilton, Ashtone Morgan and Jay Chapman, were on the pitch for TFC at the same time last Saturday. Now, with the Canadian Championship on the horizon, it’s another chance for some of those players trying their forge their way in the pro game to prove themselves. “The Canadian Championship is a huge opportunity for us,” said Jay Chapman. “It’s important to us and it’s important to the fans. Us Canadian boys always want to prove ourselves against their Canadian talent.”

Four years removed from the last time they took the Canadian Championship title, Toronto enter alongside Canada's MLS clubs, that all automatically enter the competition in the semifinal round.

Toronto won the title four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012.

The Impact won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, and they memorably made the most of their latter berth to the CONCACAF Champions League by advancing all the way to the final of the 2014-15 tournament, where they lost the two-leg series against Mexican powerhouse Club América.

The Montreal Impact and Toronto FC will begin the fight to try to unseat the Vancouver Whitecaps as reigning Canadian champions for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. The teams met once already on April 23 during the MLS regular season, when Toronto beat the Impact 2-0 in Montreal. Each side will likely be able to field strong squads with the MLS break for the Copa America Centenario group stage underway beginning this weekend.

How they got here

TORONTO: Four years removed from the last time they took the Canadian Championship title, Toronto enter alongside Canada's MLS clubs, that all automatically enter the competition in the semifinal round. Toronto won the title four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012.

MONTREAL: The Impact won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, and they memorably made the most of their latter berth to the CONCACAF Champions League by advancing all the way to the final of the 2014-15 tournament, where they lost the two-leg series against Mexican powerhouse Club América.

The season so far

TORONTO: It's been something of an up-and-down season for Toronto, who currently sit in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. Despite playing their first eight matches on the road while renovations to BMO Field wrapped up, Toronto managed to pick up points in five of those contests, giving way to optimism for their home return. But injuries and mixed results have put a damper on the homecoming. Striker Jozy Altidore injured his hamstring at home two weeks ago, ruling him out for as long as eight weeks. But even worse, star striker Sebastian Giovincowent down in a 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday with an adductor injury, putting his availability on Wednesday in doubt. The Italian international has scored or assisted on all but one of Toronto's goals this year.

MONTREAL: Fresh off a 3-2 win against the LA Galaxy, the Impact head into Wednesday in good form. They sit third overall in the Eastern Conference and Ignacio Piatti continues a goal-scoring tear with eight goals on the season, plus three assists. He is tied for second place in the Golden Boot race and has notched a goal in his last two matches. Didier Drogba has played five fewer games, but has still notched five goals in eight appearances this season, along with four assists, and he has scored in each of his last four appearances.

Series history

TFC and the Impact have a years-long rivalry, popularly known as the 401 Derby, and regard the other team as their biggest rival. Given their relative proximity, they are frequent opponents both in MLS and Canadian Championship action. Montreal and Toronto did meet in the Canadian Championship final in both 2014 and 2008, which Montreal won both times.

Ottawa Fury FC will take to the pitch at TD Place on Wednesday night for the biggest match in club history as Paul Dalglish's side hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semi-final.

After advancing past the opening round for the first time by defeating rival NASL side FC Edmonton, Wednesday's match – against the defending Canadian champions, no less – will mark the first time Fury FC squares off against MLS competition.

Ottawa has shown good form in the past few weeks with several positive results and the club is getting closer to the high-intensity, offensive mentality that Daglish is looking for. He says his team is mentally and physically prepared for this important match.

“We’re confident,” said the coach. “We are in great form as we had some really good results leading in to the last game. And even though we lost the last one, we’ve grown in confidence from it because of the level of our performance. We’re going into this game with great confidence and great excitement to produce another quality display in front of our supporters.”

Fury FC saw their nine-game home unbeaten streak (4W-4D-0L) come to end in a 2-1 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers last week, though Ottawa dominated every statistical category (possession, shots, passing, corner kicks) and came out of the game with heads held high.

Forward Carl Haworth gave his team a glimmer of hope in the 80th minute of the game when he scored his first goal of the NASL season on a late-game penalty kick. With the hard-fought loss, Haworth expects his side to be very motivated for Wednesday's showdown with the Whitecaps.

“The mood is good and everyone is confident,” said Haworth. “We didn’t get the result we wanted on Friday but the performance was there. We were creating chances and kept the ball most of the game so everyone is in full confidence going into this one. This competition means a lot to the club and to the city so we want to do well.”

During the game against the Strikers, Romuald Peiser once again saw his name go into the Fury FC record books as the Frenchman became Ottawa’s all-time minutes played leader (4890, postseason included), surpassing Mason Trafford’s mark (4808) . Peiser could surpass Trafford's all-time appearances mark on Wednesday (54).

Peiser is proud of the record and is looking forward to the challenge of facing an MLS-side for the first time in the club’s history.

“It’s always nice because I work hard for it. It’s not luck but only hard work and I’m very proud to be part of the Ottawa Fury FC, “said Peiser. “We are very excited to face an MLS team for the first time, it’s a big step for this club and now we want to make sure we do well.”

Though Fury is facing a team from a level above on the North American soccer pyramid, especially a Whitecaps team that is currently the third-highest scoring side in MLS with 23 goals in 15 games, Dalglish wants to see his team approach this game like any other and keep improving.

“We have to keep getting better by playing the way we want,” said Dalglish. “We have to forget about the fact that they are the Vancouver Whitecaps and concentrate on ourselves and make sure we play our way. The most important thing for us is to get better each game and we will try to do that on Wednesday.”

The Whitecaps, meanwhile, have picked up only one point in their last two league games after reeling off three-straight victories to start the season. After a 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers on May 22nd, Carl Robinson’s side most recently shared the points in a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo last weekend.

The upcoming two matches against Vancouver will also bring back memories for a few members of Ottawa’s coaching staff and players, particularly for assistant coach Martin Nash and goalkeeper coach Bruce Grobbelaar. Nash won two league championships with the Vancouver Whitecaps (2006 and 2008), while Grobbelaar played for the Whitecaps in 1979-1980 before beginning his legendary career at Liverpool.

The return leg of the semi-final will be played at BC Place in Vancouver on June 8th. The winner on aggregate score will advance to the Amway Canadian Championship Final and will face the winner of the Montreal Impact/Toronto FC semi-final.

Single game tickets are available now by clicking here, calling 613-232-6767 x1 or in person at the TD Place Box Office. Interested in more than just single game tickets? Fans can buy their 2016 Fury FC season tickets here and become part of a growing legion of fans that has helped make TD Place a fortress. The complete 2016 Ottawa Fury FC schedule is available

The Vancouver Whitecaps will embark on the quest to defend their Amway Canadian Championship title beginning with their first-leg semifinal clash against NASL side Ottawa Fury on Wednesday. The first competitive meeting between the sides, Ottawa will seek the upset and make waves in Canadian soccer. Meanwhile, Vancouver will look to both give players minutes ahead of the MLS break during the Copa America Centenario group stage and do what it takes to advance to the final once again.

How they got here

VANCOUVER: Defending champions, the Whitecaps enter the Canadian Championship this year in the semifinal round, alongside fellow MLS sides Toronto FC and Montreal Impact.

OTTAWA: The Fury qualified for the semifinals for the first time in their history this year, as they defeated FC Edmonton 3-2 on aggregate to reach the final four.

The season so far

OTTAWA: The Fury lost 2-1 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at home on Friday, and are inninth place in the NASL's Spring Season table.

Series history

This is the first competitive meeting between the clubs. The Fury, which began play in 2014 and were championship finalists last year, are playing a non-NASL opponent in a competitive game for the first time in their history.

Teams at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference table after the opening two months meet for a second time this season when Philadelphia Union take on Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday evening at Talen Energy Stadium. Union are sitting atop the conference, maintaining their hold on the East leadership following a 1-1 draw in their top-of-the-table clash at the Colorado Rapids last weekend. Crew SC followed three consecutive draws with a victory last weekend, hanging on for a 4-3 home win against Real Salt Lake.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Chris Pontius scored a pair of goals, the game-winner coming late in the second half, as Union took a 2-1 win March 12 in Columbus.

The first meeting victory was the first ever for Union in Columbus. Crew SC have never lost to Union in Columbus. Crew SC had won six of seven meetings there prior, with one draw, including the previous three matches in the Ohio state capital.

Crew SC took a 3-1 in the final meeting between the teams last year, Sept. 12 in Chester, their third road victory in the last four years in the series.

Nine NASL-USL meetings, including the first meeting between Oklahoma City rivals Rayo OKC and Energy FC, highlight the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In 2015, USL teams swept all seven meetings with NASL teams. Six amateur teams are still alive, and at least one is assured of advancing to the next round against the LA Galaxy as the Southern California circuit UPSL's La Maquina and LA Wolves FC meet.

Two results -- Ventura County Fusion over LA Wolves FC and The Villages SC over the Charleston Battery -- were overturned because the winning team used ineligible players, while two other protests from Kraze United and San Francisco City FC regarding the use of ineligible players by The Villages SC and CD Aguiluchos USA were rejected because they weren't filed in time.

The MLS teams will enter in the round of 32. The Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes will face off in the lone tussle of league opponents. Defending champion Sporting Kansas City will open at either Minnesota United FC or Saint Louis FC.

U.S. Open Cup, Results:First Round, May 11:ResultsSecond Round,May 18:Results